Plenty of incentives for PSU's O'Brien

Bill O'Brien will earn an extra $104,500 if Penn State earns a bowl bid next season.

DAILY NEWS STAFF REPORT

Posted: February 14, 2012

NEW PENN STATE football coach Bill O'Brien has incentives in his contract for winning the division title; winning the Big Ten championship game; participating in a bowl game; and winning the BCS national championship.

In his first season, O'Brien would earn $104,500 for the Nittany Lions' reaching a bowl game - or 11 percent of his $950,000 base salary.

O'Brien's contract was among a number of documents the university posted on a new website yesterday as part of the administration's pledge for more openness.

In Year 1, he would receive 5 percent ($47,500) for the division title, 8 percent ($76,000) for the Big Ten title and 9 percent ($85,500) for the BCS national championship.

His contract calls for a 5 percent raise in base salary each year beginning in July 2013, so the money that he could earn would increase.

When O'Brien was hired in January, the university said his total compensation would equal roughly $2.3 million.

Along with his base salary, O'Brien receives executive benefits offered by the university, $1 million each annually for radio and television and $350,000 each year from a Nike contract.

The contract also calls for how an extension would be reached should the school want to retain O'Brien beyond the 5 years. The agreement says the school will evaluate O'Brien in January 2016 - at the end of his fourth season - and the sides can extend the deal for 1, 2 or 3 years by mutual agreement. The intention, it seems, would be to avoid lame-duck status.

Should O'Brien resign before the contract runs out, he would need to pay a buyout of his base salary and additional compensation multiplied by the number of years remaining on his contract.

The school also posted the agreement between the school and acting athletic director David Joyner. The agreement calls for an indefinite term of employment with 30 days' notice required to end the arrangement.

Joyner's annual compensation is $396,000, to be paid in increments of $33,000 per month. He also is entitled to university benefits and receives a car for his use.

Athletic director Tim Curley, who is charged with perjury and failed to report suspected child abuse in the Jerry Sandusky case, remains on a leave of absence.

Among other information released, the Board of Trustees said it will seek input from the Paterno family and various university-related groups to determine how to honor Joe Paterno. No timetable has been decided upon for an honor.